This Vintage Anchor Hocking Drinkware Is A Valuable Thrift Store Find

There are thrift store items that announce their value loudly from the display shelf or box. And then there are those that don't make much of a fuss. They may lack brand labels and noteworthy design markings or appear recently made. In fact, if someone didn't tell you, you wouldn't know they had much of any value at all. One good example of this is Anchor Hocking's Miss America tumblers. Because of their retro, Depression-era glassware design, they've become quite popular amongst collectors hunting for a cool vintage find with real resale value.

The tumblers were produced by the Hocking Glass Company (now known as Anchor Hocking Glass) between 1935 and 1938. However, they have been reproduced since the 1970s, so genuine 1930s pieces are the real thrift store find that's a rare vintage treasure. The Miss America line has its own unique style, which includes a diamond-textured body that gives it a sparkly shimmer in well-lit spaces and a sawtooth-edged rim with four seams. The original tumblers came in a few different colors including jade, ruby red, crystal, and ice blue.

These colorful glass tumblers offer a great way to mix up the decor in your home with vintage ideas. But here's where it gets interesting for thrifters: the original Miss America tumblers can sell for $25 to $45 each, with complete sets fetching even more on platforms like eBay, Etsy, and Poshmark. In fact, a pink, four-piece set recently sold for $300 in an auction on eBay. If you can find one of those rare early productions of the Miss America line as opposed to a reproduction, you could end up with a piece that's worth a lot more.

An unassuming tumbler in your hand may be a genuine 1930s original hiding in plain sight, but how can you tell? Original tumblers had four seams where the glass was molded together. Early reproductions from the 1970s and '80s only had two seams, making them easy to spot. However, the tricky part is that newer reproductions have since mimicked the original four-seam design. So counting the seams alone won't quite cut it if you're looking to differentiate the two. Luckily, you can also flip the cup over to check the tumbler's bottom. Originals have about 1/4 inch of glass at the bottom, while early reproductions run a bit thicker, closer to 1/2 inch. Another way to confirm is to check the diamond-textured pattern on the sides of the tumblers. Originals will have a sharper, crisper texture pattern that resembles a topless, four-sided pyramid. Reproductions have this same design, though it's slightly bigger, with wider spacing between the points at the top.

Another good tip is to bring a blacklight. Old-fashioned clear crystal Miss America pieces, due to their trace uranium oxide content, give off a greenish-yellow glow under long wave UV lights. If you come across a clear piece while thrifting, you can use a quick blacklight test to confirm that it's genuine. Next time you're out on the hunt for colored glassware at your favorite thrift store, take a close look at all the vintage pieces. The Miss America collection included several other types of dishware and servingware too, such as plates, pitchers, and butter dishes.